From this page you can download firmwares for the telescope controllers, as well as a limited demo version of the Ursa Minor Program.

You can find these on separate page.

Demo versions

• Ursa Minor demo version

Tools, utilities

• MCConfig
• Encoder Config
• Closed Loop Tuning
• Firmware uploader
• Testprogram for testing Merlin mount with Bluetooth interface
• Testprogram for testing the Ursa Minor Autoguider interface

Firmware files

• MC5 firmware files
• MC3 firmware files
• Hand Control firmware files
• Astronomical catalogs for Ursa Minor Hand control

Ascom drivers

• Ursa Minor Ascom drivers

Device drivers

• USB-serial interface. Manufacturer: FTDI

You can download and try the demo version of Ursa Minor Pro for free. There is no time limit in the program, but more features are disabled, its database is smaller, the limiting magnitude is lower than that of the full version.

The purpose of this software version is to allow the user to try out the Ursa Minor telescope controllers. You may want to do this even if you want to control your telescope with another program.

With this software version, you can only test Ursa Minor (MC3, MC5, OC5) telescope controllers. If you want to use something else (such as Skywatcher or Meade telescopes), you need to get the full version.

No registration code is required to use the program. No installation required. Simply extract the downloaded compressed file to an empty directory and you can run it.

Limitations of the Demo program

• Telescope control is only possible for Ursa Minor controllers (MC3, MC5, OC5)
• The program uses a small star database with magnitude limit of 6mg. Any larger catalogue is disabled in theis version.
• Minor planets and comets are not supported by this version.

Download

• Ursa Minor Pro demo version: ursaminor_demo_3_5.zip (2024.11.24.)
• Ursa Minor Pro demo version: ursaminor_demo_3_4.zip (2022.10.19.)
• Ursa Minor Pro demo version: ursaminor_demo_3_3.zip (2022.05.14.)
• Ursa Minor Pro demo version: ursaminor_demo_3_2.zip (2021.11.07.)

With this program you can do the initial setup of MC3 and MC5 telescope controllers.

mcconfig_2_6.zip (2021.04.14.)

mcconfig_2_5.zip (2020.12.06.)

mcconfig_2_4.zip (2019.10.13.)

mcconfig_2_3.zip

mcconfig_2_2.zip

mcconfig_2_1.zip

mcconfig_2.zip

mcconfig_1.zip

With this program you can configure the absolute encoders connected to the MC5.

encoder_config_1_2.zip (2022.04.24.)

encoder_config_1_1.zip (2021.02.17.)

With this program you can set up the closed loop control, to using high resolution encoder for precise tracking without autoguider. It works with MC5

closed_loop_tuning_1_1.zip (2024.11.24.)

closed_loop_tuning_1_0.zip (2022.05.15.)

With this program you can update the internal firmware of the following Ursa Minor products:

• MC3 telescope controller
• MC5 (OC5) telescope controller
• Hand controller for MC3 or MC5

Download links:

ursaminor_uploader_1_3.zip (2020.05.19.)

ursaminor_uploader_1_2.zip (2020.04.19.)

ursaminor_uploader_1_1.zip (2015.04.20.)

Screenshot of the program:

This program can be used to test the communication between the computer and Merlin mount or testing the operation of the Ursa Minor Bluetooth module.

This program is freeware and can be downloaded from here: merlin_test.zip

This program can be used to test the functionality of the Ursa Minor Autoguider Interface. Choose the port number from the dropdown list and press the connect button! After the connection is established, you can send correction pulses to the autoguider. The led will indicate the communication.

This program can also be used for testing the "Autoguider monitoring" feature of the Ursa Minor Pro program.

You can download it from here: autoguider_test.zip.

The name of the firmware files indicates, that they are preconfigured for Fornax 51, 101, 150 mounts, however they could be used for any other mounts, as you can modify the settings (gear ratio) with the MCConfig program.

Obscon5_Fornax150_release_01_00_00_14.bin (2023.11.06.)

• MC5 firmware
• Compatible hand controller firmware version: 01.00.00.11.
• Use this firmware with MCConfig 2.6.

Obscon5_Fornax150_release_01_00_00_13.bin (2023.03.04.)

• MC5 firmware
• From this version, the MC5 is compatible with ASI AIR Pro.
• Compatible hand controller firmware version: 01.00.00.10.
• Use this firmware with MCConfig 2.6.

Obscon5_Fornax150_release_01_00_00_12.bin (2022.10.19.)

• MC5 firmware
• Compatible hand controller firmware version: 01.00.00.10.
• Use this firmware with MCConfig 2.6.

Obscon5_Fornax150_release_01_00_00_11.bin (2022.06.28.)

• MC5 firmware
• Compatible hand controller firmware version: 01.00.00.10.
• Use this firmware with MCConfig 2.6.

Obscon5_Fornax150_release_01_00_00_10.bin (2022.05.15.)

• MC5 firmware
• Compatible hand controller firmware version: 01.00.00.10.
• Use this firmware with MCConfig 2.6.

Obscon5_Fornax150_release_01_00_00_09.bin (2021.10.03.)

• MC5 firmware
• Compatible hand controller firmware version: 01.00.00.09.
• Use this firmware with MCConfig 2.6.

Obscon5_Fornax150_release_01_00_00_08.bin (2021.03.28.)

• MC5 firmware
• Compatible hand controller firmware version: 01.00.00.08.
• Use this firmware with MCConfig 2.6.

Obscon5_Fornax150_release_01_00_00_07.bin (2021.02.11.)

• MC5 firmware
• Use this firmware with MCConfig 2.6.
• Ascom compatibility: Ursa Minor Ascom driver. (Find it on the beta versions page.)

Obscon5_Fornax150_release_01_00_00_06.bin (2020.12.06.)

• MC5 firmware
• Use this firmware with MCConfig 2.5.
• Ascom compatibility: Ursa Minor Ascom driver. (Find it on the beta versions page.)

Obscon5_Fornax150_release_01_00_00_05.bin (2020.06.14.)

• MC5 firmware
• Use this firmware with MCConfig 2.4.
• Ascom compatibility: Ursa Minor Ascom driver. (Find it on the beta versions page.)

You can upgrade the MC3 with these firmware files. Use the Firmware uploader program.

mc3fw_01_00_00_15.bin (2022.07.27.)

• Compatible hand controller firmware version: 01.00.00.10.
• Use this firmware with MCConfig 2.6.
• Ascom compatibility: Ursa Minor Ascom driver and LX200 Advanced Ascom driver

mc3fw_01_00_00_14.bin (2022.05.29.)

• Compatible hand controller firmware version: 01.00.00.10.
• Use this firmware with MCConfig 2.6.
• Ascom compatibility: Ursa Minor Ascom driver and LX200 Advanced Ascom driver

mc3fw_01_00_00_13.bin (2021.10.03.)

• Compatible hand controller firmware version: 01.00.00.09.
• Use this firmware with MCConfig 2.6.

mc3fw_01_00_00_12.bin (2021.03.28.)

• Use this firmware with MCConfig 2.6.

mc3fw_01_00_00_11.bin (2020.12.06.)

• Use this firmware with MCConfig 2.5.
• Ascom compatibility: Ursa Minor Ascom driver. (Find it on the beta versions page.)

mc3fw_01_00_00_10.bin (2019.10.13.)

• Use this firmware with MCConfig 2.4.
• This firmware is compatible with the Ursa Minor hand control. (Skywatcher compatibility dropped.)
• Ascom compatibility: Advanced LX-200 ascom driver.

mc3fw_01_00_00_09.bin (2015.04.17.)

This firmware is required when use the MC3 with Ursa Minor Hand control running firmware 01.00.00.02. or later

mc3fw_01_00_00_08.bin (2014.10.19.)

Improved compatibility with Synscan hand control. Supported Synscan firmware versions: 3.27 and 3.28.

mc3fw_01_00_00_07.bin (2014.09.07.)

Fixing a bug when using with Synscan and guiding with MGen.

mc3fw_01_00_00_06.bin (2014.07.20.)

Bugfix: Auto-guiding with EQ-Ascom driver fixed.

mc3fw_01_00_00_05.bin (2014.07.03.)

Bugfix: Compatibility with EQ-Ascom driver fixed.

mc3fw_01_00_00_04.bin (2014.02.03.)

New feature: Handling park position

mc3fw_01_00_00_03.bin

Motor control: Improved performance at high rotating speeds. Supporting Fornax 52 "Photo" series mounts.

mc3fw_01_00_00_02.bin

Max motor current increased to 1.8A. Improved guiding performance: Handling shorter pulses.

UMI_HC_01_00_00_12.bin (2024.08.19.)

• MC5 firmware required: 01.00.00.14 or later.
• MC3 firmware required: 01.00.00.13 or later.

UMI_HC_01_00_00_11.bin (2023.11.06.)

• MC5 firmware required: 01.00.00.10 or later. (01.00.00.14 recommended)
• MC3 firmware required: 01.00.00.13 or later.

UMI_HC_01_00_00_10.bin (2022.05.15.)

• MC5 firmware required: 01.00.00.10 or later.
• MC3 firmware required: 01.00.00.13 or later.

UMI_HC_01_00_00_09.bin (2021.10.03.)

• MC5 firmware required: 01.00.00.09 or later.
• MC3 firmware required: 01.00.00.13 or later.

UMI_HC_01_00_00_08.bin (2021.03.28.)

MC3 firmware required: 01.00.00.12 or later. MC5 firmware required: 01.00.00.08 or later.

UMI_HC_01_00_00_07.bin (2020.12.07.)

MC3 firmware required: 01.00.00.11 or later. MC5 firmware required: 01.00.00.06 or later.

UMI_HC_01_00_00_06.bin (2019.07.07.)

MC3 firmware required: 01.00.00.09 or later. New function: Position of Sun, Moon and planets of the Solar System.

UMI_HC_01_00_00_05.bin (2017.03.11.)

MC3 firmware required: 01.00.00.09 or later.

UMI_HC_01_00_00_04.bin (2016.01.04.)

MC3 firmware required: 01.00.00.09 or later.

UMI_HC_01_00_00_03.bin (2015.04.30.)

MC3 firmware required: 01.00.00.09 or later.

UMI_HC_01_00_00_02.bin (2015.04.17.)

This firmware is required for using with MC3 running firmware 01.00.00.09 or later.

UMI_HC_01_00_00_01.bin (2015.03.26.)

This firmware is required for using with MC3 running firmware 01.00.00.08.

Coming soon...

Simple driver: It can serve one client program at one time.

UrsaMinorAscomDriverSetup_1_3.exe (2024.06.01.)

Ascom driver for MC5 and MC3 telescope controllers: version 1.3.

UrsaMinorAscomDriverSetup_1_2.exe (2023.04.05.)

Ascom driver for MC5 and MC3 telescope controllers: version 1.2.

UrsaMinorAscomDriverSetup_1_0.exe (2021.11.08.)

Ascom driver for MC3/MC5 telescope controllers: version 1.0.

Multi driver: It can serve more client programs at one time.

UrsaMinorAscomMultiDriverSetup_1_0.exe (2021.11.14.)

Ascom multidriver for MC3/MC5 telescope controllers: version 1.0.

Ascom utilities

UrsaMinorAscomTelescopeDriverTester.zip (2021.11.08.)

Simple test program for testing the Ursa Minor Ascom driver.

The MC3, the Hand control, and many other Ursa Minor product contains the FTDI USB-serial converter IC. You can download the necessary driver from the manufacturers website. Instructions:

• Do not connect the hardware (MC3 or other Ursa Minor product) before installing driver. Unplug it, when it was plugged.
• Navigate to the www.ftdichip.com website.
• Locate the "Drivers" menuitem in the bottom of the page (leftmost item in the bottom menu), and click on it.
• It expands to two additional options. Choose the "VCP driver" option.
• A table will be displayed listing many options for several operating system. for most of the cases, check the upper-right part of the table, and you find there a link as: "available as setup executable". Download this.
• Unpack the file, and run the executable program from it.
• Restart the computer
• Plug in the MC3 USB cable and switch the MC3 on. The computer should recognize it as an USB-serial port.